Syracuse pulls into lead in coaches’ poll for first time since 2008

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Following its 2-0 win at No. 3 Princeton on Sunday, Syracuse (9-0) is ranked No. 1 in the country for the first time since 2008 in the NFHCA Coaches' Poll released on Tuesday.

The Orange had been ranked No. 2 for three consecutive weeks following its 1-0 overtime win against then-No. 2 North Carolina on Sept. 1.

"It is a nice recognition from the coaching community," head coach Ange Bradley said. "It is an honor to what we have done so far this season, but it is not where you start, it is where you finish. That is our motto and focus this year."

Syracuse garnered 932 total points, including 25 first-place votes in the poll. The Orange is followed by No. 2 North Carolina (9-1) with 892 points and 22 first-place votes, No. 3 Princeton (7-1) with 822 points and No. 4 Maryland (7-1) with 784 points.

No. 5 Connecticut (737 points), the only other undefeated team in the country, received one first-place vote. The Orange and Huskies will meet on Oct. 27 at J.S. Coyne Stadium.

It is the Orange's first No. 1 ranking since Oct. 14, 2008. Syracuse reached the top spot for the first time in program history when it was 14-0 and the only undefeated team in the country. The program finished that season 22-2 overall.

The last Syracuse program to be ranked No. 1 in a major poll was men's basketball, holding the top spot in both the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN polls from Dec. 12, 2011 to Jan. 16, 2012.